If your children enjoy crafts, getting messy and tea then come to the Messy Christmas Crafts on Saturday 17th December 3-5pm at St Paul’s Church Hall. This is a joint venture with St Mark’s Church in Bourne End. Contact clandeacon@talktalk.net.

Christmas Services: There will be a Carol Service at 6pm on Sunday 18th December at St Paul’s, and the popular Christmas Eve Crib Service will be held back in St Paul’s church this year at 4pm. Children are welcome to come dressed as Shepherds and Angels. The Midnight Mass will start at 11pm at St Paul’s.On Christmas Day at St Paul’s there will be a Communion Service at 8am; followed by an All-Age Service at 9:30am. On New Year’s Day there will be an Informal Holy Communion at 9:30am at St Paul’s.

Regular Activities: The Friday Communion Service and Lunch held at St Mary’s will continue in term time, as will the Youth Club on Mondays 7-8:30pm in St Paul’s Church Hall, Toddlers on Tuesdays 9:30am at St Paul’s Church Hall, and Tots Praise on Fridays 9:45am also at St Paul’s Church Hall. Further information can be found on our website www.stpaulswooburn.org

The Walk Centre: We support The Walk Centre in Nakuru, Kenya, which helps slum-dwelling children and their families by providing education, healthcare and food aid. As well as helping with the charity’s many projects we aim to provide girls with handmade dresses, made from pillowcases, and boys with handmade shorts, made from adult t-shirts. We hold regular workshops to make dresses and shorts for the children. The next one will be on Saturday 7th January at St Mary’s. If you are interested in getting out your sewing machine please contact Sam at dressesmadewithlove@aol.co.uk.

Hire of Church Halls: For more information on any of our services or to St Mary’s Church Hall or St Paul’s Church Hall and Garden contact stpaulswooburnparishoffice@gmail.com or 01628 525512.

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With Halloween fast approaching, please keep mindful of people who are unable to participate. Some elderly & disabled people worry about this night for weeks & It can be quite intimidating for some. The fact that they can’t keep getting up to answer the door or perhaps are even in bed means that children knocking on their front door is not just a nuisance but it’s also very unfair. T

here are also many professions that require people to do shift work & would therefore be sleeping, people who just cannot afford to buy sweets for children they don’t know for fear of being “tricked” or those who just do not agree with “Trick or Treating” seeing it as just a way for companies to make money. Whatever the reason, they deserve to be left in peace. After all, you wouldn’t encourage your children to take anything from a stranger at any other time of year.

Not everyone wants to celebrate Halloween so perhaps by taking note if the house is decorated with spooky items would be wise.

On the flip side, although children love Halloween & all that goes with it, I’m not sure that I would want my children taking sweets from strangers. You don’t know what has been dropped into their bags or buckets & they may eat things before you have had a chance to check it all. The “Trick” could be played on you! There are however, some neighbours who will enjoy the visits but I’m sure they will be the ones with decorations in the window.

Halloween parties are definitely the way forward, organised events where you know what you child is eating & neighbours who will still be speaking to you!

Just a little reminder that the “Annual Bourne End Junior Craft Show” is on this week, Saturday 3rd October!

The 3rd Annual Bourne End Junior Craft Show is on Saturday 3rd October & is the brainchild of Sue & Amy Croall which started with crafts classes in Bourne End library during October 2012.

Amy, who loves to enter arts & crafts competitions realised along with her Mum Sue, that there was a need for regular classes & a competition, so after speaking with Inca at the Library, the organising began. The Bourne End Horticultural show generously offered their “Penny Walsh Cup” which is presented to the Judge’s Favourite entry each year. Read more…

I’ve noticed that there has been ever increasing reports, posts & warnings regarding strange people checking out our homes. Today it has been reported that 5 dogs went missing last night from a farm in Marlow & a black car has been parked up & watching people & their homes in Stratford drive.

I just wanted to make you all aware that these things really are going on in our neighbourhood. If you notice anything odd then please report it to the police & keep your homes, children & pets safe.

Although many cars park outside my house to go to the park, I will still be checking people out to see why they are there… so, if you notice me looking at you when you pull up, I’m not being awkward or nosey, just careful & I urge you all to do the same.